Chain of bags



March 9, 1954 c. w. VOGT CHAIN OF BAGS iled Sept. 4, 1948 INVENTR. Clarence W'Vvgt BY HM? ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 9, i954 UNITED STATES OWTECE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to enwrapments and in particular to the assembling of enwrapments or bags into a chain or series.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a plurality of enwrapments or bags connected into a chain or series so that they may be successively advanced Without manually handling of the individual bags or envvrapments. It will be obvious that the provision of such a chain is of extreme value in successively advancing bags in order that they may be filled, closed, sealed, etc., by machinery, thus obviating manual handling of the individual bags. Not only does this permit of savings in packaging time and cost but also permits packaging with decreased possibility of contamination Which is desired in the case of packaging foods, drugs and similar products.

Another object is to provide a plurality of bags connected into a chain or series without the need of providing chaining means, fastening means or the like, other than such means as may be afforded on bags manufactured in present conventional designs.

A further object is to provide a chain or series of bags in which a portion of the normal closure means provided for such bags may be utilized to detachably chain the bags.

Another object is to provide a plurality of bags connected in multiple chains so that a plurality of bags may be successively advanced simultaneously. Such a chain would be advantageous for use in feeding bags to a filling apparatus having facilities for filling two bags simultaneously.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description accompanied by the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a portion of a chain embodying the present invention in which adjacent bags are connected in end to end relationship;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view through a modified form of chain in which two chains of single bags are connected together to permit successive advancing of a pair of bags; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective View of a bag adapted to be connected into a chain and provided with a handling element or member to facilitate control of the bag during advancement thereof to lling or closing or sealing apparatus.

The chain illustrated in Fig. l comprises one of the simplest forms of chains which can be made in accordance With the present invention. A plurality of bags l are shown and in this form the bags are of a plain envelope type in common use and which may be readily made by conventional bag making machines. ln making this type of bag a tubular casing of sheet material is formed and cut into lengths suitable for the size of bag to be made. As shown in Fig. l one sidewall of the completed bag is cut along a curve whereas the other sidewall may be cut substantially along a straight line so that one sidewall extends beyond the other sidewall in the region of the mouth of the bag to provide a closing flap 2 which may be used to assist in opening the bag and after the bag is filled may be folded over to provide a closure member. If desired the ap may be provided with any suitable adhesive so that it may be adhered to the opposite sidewail of the bag after folding over to seal the completed package. The bag bottom may be closed by folding the casing upon itself and securely joining the folded portion to the bag. The edge of the folded bottom portion is indicated by the numeral 3 in Fig. l.

As described, it is often customary to provide the flap 2 with an adhesive area either covering the interior surface of the flap or at desired portions therealong so that 'the flap may be adhered to the bag to close the mouth thereof. When a suitable adhesive material is used for this purpose it is possible to connect the bags into a chain or series so that they may be advanced successively by adhering a portion of an adjacent bag in the chain to the interior surface of the flap 2. For example, when a suitable 'thermoplastic adhesive material is applied to the iiap it may be activated or made tacky by heat and by positioning an adjacent bag in the series in overlapping relation with the ap and the overlapped portions may be adhered together.

In Fig. l the numeral Il indicates an adhesive area or a portion thereof which may be activated to a tacky condition so that the bottom portion of an adjacent bag will be rmly adhered thereto. Thus, by advancing the first bag in the chain, succeeding bags will follow along. When the rst bag has been fed to the lling apparatus it may be opened in any suitable manner, such as by the use of vacuum cups to draw apart opposite sidewalls of the bag in the region of the mouth, or by a jet of air directed from the region of the nozzle to separate the opposite bag walls, or by the use of mechanical lingers to enter the mouth of the bag and spread the sidewalls, or in any other desired manner.

After the bag has been filled it may be desirable to separate it from the chain to permit its being transferred to a suitable conveyor for further handling. In this event the adhesive area 4 Which provides the connection between the bag being lled and the next succeeding bag may be heated to soften or reactivate the thermoplastic adhesive which will permit severance of the bag from the chain. It may be desirable, however, to retain the bag in the chain after filling so that the successive bags may be further advanced, for example, to a closing and sealing station at which time the bags may be sealed and removed from the chain.

From this description it will be obvious that considerable savings may be obtained due to the utilization of a plurality of bags connected into a chain for feeding them to filling, closing or sealing apparatus or the like. At present bags are made individually, packed in stacks of individual bags, and generally placed in boxes for shipment Even the packaging o bags in boxes sntem f @Pplablmst tc? @bag manu' facturer. By the present invention the bags may be connected into chains as shovvn -in Fig. 1 and rolled intoa rollt Barge rolls maybe transported with or without the use of Wrappings to enclose them and When desired for use may be placed en a spindlev and -unreeled.

In the case of individual bags bought for packaging, the usual commercial operations for lling the bags invcive manuallyhandling the bags from stacks and manually presenting them to the filling apparatus `or to a conveyor which passes adjacent the nl ling apparatus. By the use ofthe presentinventionthe chains may be feddirectly tothe filling apparatuswith va minimum oi expense and eiort in handling the bags. Fig. 2 illustrates a modied `form of chain in which individual chains similar to that shown in Fig. 1 are combined by superposing one chain on anotherand connecting the bags of each chain together. Thus, pairs of bags may be simultaneously removed frolnthe chain and thereafter handled until severanceof the pair is desired. The pairs ymay be secured together in any suitable manner such as by providing portions of the bags to be paired With adhesive areaswhich may be placed in register and the bags adhered tcgether `For this purpose any suitable adhesive material lnay be utilized, one example of a satisfactory adhesive being the self-sticking type which Will'adhere to an area of the same Substance but does not `adhere to other surfaces. A The bags may also besecured together in 'many other suitable Ways. For example, top naps of bags to be paired may b e stapled together orany one of a variety of fastening ele"- ments may be utilized. A desirable form of connection is'shovvn inFig.

2 which discloses a plurality of bags I I connected into a series by adhering top aps I2 thereof tothe adjacent bottom portions I3 of adjacent bags such as by the use of an adhesive I4. An

identical chain or series formed o f bags I '5 having their top flaps I6 connected to bottom portions I 'I o fadjacent bags by an adhesive `I8 is placed alongside the previously mentioned chain or series 'of individual bags With bags of one chain superposed or in register With bags of the other chain. In this position adjacent bags of each seriesrnay be paired s uch as by the use of a tab o r handling element 20. To illustrate, the upper margin of the tab may havepreviously been connected to the bag II by an area of adhesive 2I The lower margin ofthe tab 20 maybe coated with an adhesive 22 which may be a 4 thermoplastic adhesive known as a delayed action type, that is, it can be activated by heat to tacky condition and permitted to cool prior to adherence. Thus the area of adhesive 22 may be activated prior to placing the bags Il and I5 in registry so that when they are placed in registry they may be adhered merely by the application of pressure.

Between the two adhesive areas 2i and 22 the tab 20 preferably has an uncoated central portion 23 which will not be adhered to either bag. This uncoated portion 23 of the tab will serve as alink between adjacent chains and permits 'spacing of the connected bags. An advantage of this construction is to permit the insertion of handling fingers or other members useful in lifting or transferring the bags. Also, the pair of bags are adapted to be readily supported such as by resting the portion 23 on a horizontal rail of a conveyor or the 1ike.

The members 20 may be made in any desirable manner but it is believed preferable to provide them withtheir end portions adhesively coated on opposite sides thereof with an intervening uncoated portion 23. Thus, the adhesive materials utilized at opposite ends of the tabs may have different characteristics so that, for example, activation of the adhesive at one end of the tab vvill not vactivate the adhesive at the other end of the tab. If a thermoplastic adhesive material is utilized to c'oat the opposite surfaces of the end yportions df the tab (these adhesives might be of such a nature that they will have different activation temperatures, one of which may be appreciablyhigher than the other.

Further, the tabportions may if desired, remain on `Jthe bag after filling, closing, or sealing, and in such event it may be desired to make the tabs of such a size that advertising matter can be vimprinted thereon. Also, these tabs may -be useful for handling Vthe completed package or to facilitate displaying 'the vpackage on a display rack. If 'it is desired -to retain the tabs on the completed packages the tabs may be severed through the Yuncoat'ed portions 23v in any suit- `able rnanner. Itfmay also be desired to remove the tabs andw'hn a thermoplastic adhsive matrlal is utilized this 'dan be readily done'b'y heatingthe end portions of the tab to Isoften orrea'cilv'aie the adhesive and ftii'iibeeling or sliding the tatsffoiilthe page. The tabs may also 'be detachably secured to the bags by apressure sensitlig'e aiiiisiyeliating 'characteristics of yhigh shea'ijfstrengtnbut which may be readily peeled. Biggie 3 illiistrates another inguined 'form of @nain siiiillai te that shown in Fig. l. in this chain` the individual bags or tubes, a portion of one of which is Vindicated by the numeral 25, are of the type lin which a length of casing -is 'out along a straight line so that the sidewalls are 'of substantially equal length. The bottol'nsmail;7 be closed in Yanysuitable manner. -In'dividual bags may be connectedtg'thr 'to fr'm a chain By providing an `adhesive area'irldicat'd by the 'rru'- ineral `t "on 'the exterior siir'f'ace of one sidewall df the bag, preferably nar the indiitli t'h eof s that the ta'g-maygteadiig1red 'to the fbforii prtlon'oraii adjacent bag. When viewing Fig. 3 the area 2a isdispcsdonth'xirl'i di side wall of the bag or tube 2 5, shown mthe 'drawing ih e intiviiiai bags 25 in nie iaiiey be provided witna 'member handling element ,21..f0r use in vCfirttoline the bae- Forxample. the chain may be fed to the filling position and the bagsiopenedby gripping the handling element 21; Y

It is also contemplated that the provision of the member 21 may facilitate handling of the bag to advance it either beforevor after it has been removed from the chain.A As shown in Fig. 3 the handling element 21 comprises a tab member of the type shown in Fig. 2 in which one end portion 28 is adhered to the bag 25 and the opposite end portion 2S is provided with an adhesive area 3i! on its outer surface, the adhesive area 3b being on the surface of the tab 211 which is directed in an opposite direction from the surface adhered to the bag 25. Also, between the end portions 2B and 29 an intervening portion di is provided which is preferably not adhesively coated. To emphasize the fact that the portions 29 and 3i are not adhered to the bag or tube 25, the portion 3| is shown at a distinct angle to the bag wall. Generally the portions of the member 21 will lieradjacent the bag wall extending only slightly outwardly therefrornin normal position.

The adhesive area 36 may be utilized to facilitate gripping ofthe handling element or in the event the bag mouth is not provided with other sealing means the end portion 2S may be dimensioned and positioned so that it can be folded over the bag mouth to act as a closure strip. the member 21 is disposed below the bag mouth a suitable distance the walls of the bag mouth may be folded Vover and for packaging of many materials the use of the member as a sealing strip may be adequate. Obviously the member 21 may be of such-size and shape that it will act as a label andcompletely enclose the top portion of the bag to provide an eicient air-tight or siftproof seal. For example, if the handling element extends for the full width of the bag or tube the end portion 2ev when folded over the bag tube mouth and sealed against itself would provide a sealed area completely surrounding the top and sides lof the mouth.

Whilethe drawings show bags connected into chains by securing the mouth end of one bag to the bottom portion of another bag while the bags are in end to end position it will be apparent that many other forms of-chains can be provided. For example, it is contemplated that bags may be chained with their transverse side edges overlapped and secured together resulting in a chain which may be fed sideways with the mouths of all of the bagsV faced in the same direction. Further it is possible to secure the bags together with only portions of their side edges overlapping or with only corner portions of the bags overlapping and secured to provide a chain in which individual bags will move along a line disposed diagonally with respect to the bags. It is generally believed preferable to connect the bags into chains in which the mouth ends of each bag face in substantially the same direction so that the chains may be advanced to a filling position and each bag mouth will be properly presented to the filling nozzle.

Chains or series of bags made in accordance with the present invention may be assembled from any type of bag. The bags illustrated in the drawing are of the envelope type but it will be obvious that almost any other type of bag may be readily utilized. For example, in many instances it is desirable to use bags provided with infolds or pleats along their transverse side edges. This type of bag is desirable since it has the capacity of opening more fully where the nature of the contents to be enclosed make this desirable.

6 Such bags may also be easier to open or control at the filling station.

The present invention may be readily applied to enwrapments or bags or tubes of heat sealable material or having heat sealable liners or heat sealable material disposed around the interior of the bag mouths to permit sealing of the bags or tubes by autogeneously welding or sealing the same.

For example, lengths of tubular casing formed of a heat sealable material may be readily chained for feeding to packaging machinery. If the material of which the bag is made is capable of softening when reheated without damaging the material, it may be possible to detachably connect the bags into a chain without the necessity of applying an additional adhesive. Also, where bags are made of such a material, handling members, tabs, labels or the like may be readily aixed thereto by the use of a thermoplastic adhesive having a lower activation temperature than that of the bag material so that applying or removing of the handling members will not fuse or seal the bag wall. When bags or tubes of heat sealable material having a relatively low fusing temperature are utilized it is preferable to secure handling members and the like with a delayed action type thermoplastic adhesive material since it has the property of remaining tacky after cooling below its activating temperature. Further, the use of a suitable pressure sensitive adhesive may also be desirable to avoid adversely affecting the bag wall. Adhesives of this type are available with satisfactory adhering properties but which may be readily peeled or removed without offsetting, marking or damaging the bag or tube.

1t will be understood that the foregoing description of preferred embodiments of the invention is for the purpose of explanation and illustration and numerous variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. As an article of manufacture for use in packaging, a plurality of bags each of which has a closure flap extending beyond the mouth thereof, an adhesive on the inside surface of each of said closure iiaps, said bags being disposed in sequence in openable condition with their mouths faced in the same direction, a closure iiap only of one bag being in overlapped relation with a bottom portion of an adjacent bag and adhered thereto by said adhesive in position to permit progressive advancement, opening and filling of said bags while so connected, whereby said adhesive may be used to connect said bags in sequence during packaging and to seal said bags when filled.

2. As an article of manufacture, a plurality of bags each having a side wall thereof extending beyond its opposite side wall in the region of the mouth of the bag to form a flap, and a detachable adhesive bond between at least a portion of that surface of each of the flaps forming a continuation of the inner surfaces of the first mentioned side walls and the outer surface of the same wall of and adjacent bag, said bonds connecting the bags in a chain and being detachable to disengage the iiap of one bag from the next adjacent bag.

3. An article, according to claim 2, wherein said surfaces of the naps are provided with an adhesive material at least a portion of which forms the detachable adhesive bond.

4. A bag chain comprising a plurality of bags,

marmo:

espn-having an openi'end, front and back Walls and an open closure iiap on said back wall at the open end of the bag extending beyond the end of the-frontwall a-tsaidopen end, detach'ableadhesive bonds detachably connecting said bags together" in end'` tof end4 relation with the open end of each bag adjacentto'theend of! another bag opposite fromthe open endfof said another bag, and with the closure flap, only, of each bag overlapping a` wall of an adjacent bag the-nap of one bag being detachably' connectedE toAA said' wall of an adjacent bag` by means of the detachable afd'- hesive= bond' interposed between a portion of the nap! and-said-wa-l-l of saidf adjacent bag;l

51."V A'bag chain-'comprising' a'plurali-ty of pairs ofbagsachbag having Va front wall, af-back`` wall andan openL end, saidback wall havinga closure ila-p thereon extending' beyond the adjacent `edge ofthe front wall, means detachably connecting the bags of eachI pair tok each otherv withr their l'oackv walls in opposition and means detachably connecting the closure ilapsonly of each pair of bags tothe oppositeends of bags of another pair to position the bags' in end to end relation in two rows in whichA all of the ybags are detachably connected'.

6; A bagchain comprising a first series of bags, each having a front Wall, a back wallA and an open lend', means detachably` connecting said bags in endto endrelation' with'theirr open ends facing in 'the' saine directionand free from obstruction by the adjacent end of other bags of said series, a second series of bags connected together: inthe same way as said iirstseries land having' their open ends facing' in the same direction as the open ends of the rst series and' means detachably connecting the individual bags of said rst series to individual bags of said second series with their.V back walls' inV opposing relation'.

7. As' an article of manufacture', a plurality g ing flap oran adjacent bagaud e. ad hesive bond securing the bottom of eachbagto said:` portion of said -fiapI oban adjacent bagin such a position thatr said opposite sidewalls are arranged in non-overlappingseriesf'to'- permit opening and? llingsof 'said-bags-'whil'e' so con.'- nected; said adhesive:bondipermitting` detach@ ment Yof sai-d portion 'ot said tlap from they bottom of the fbag in` overlapping relation thereto.`

81 An article of vrrxanufacture which `cou-'i-priseai a plurality of bags, eachof whichV has one of' its sid'e panels extending beyondi its Aopposite-side panel in thefregio'n of' the bagmouthv toifo'rmV a closing flap,4 adhesiveI materialv onf* theinside surface of saidY closing nap; saidfbags arrangedi in a series and having their mouth portions faced in thesamedirection with av bottoniy portion of each bag` overlapping` and securedd'etachablyA tofafportion only of the flap of an'adjacent bag by' means of adetachable adhesive bond insuch position that the opposite side-panels lare arranged inf nonoverlapping series topermit progressive advancement, opening and filling of saidbags while so connected, said? portion of said nap beingdetachable from saidbottom of the bag toenable said bags to be separated and the open top of'a bag to be closedby the detached ap thereon.

CLARENCE W; VOGT.

References- Citedf'in'- the file of 4this1 patent UNITED STATES .PATENTS Number Name Date;

689,298 Fried Dec. 17, 1901 791,362 Parmenter May 30, 1905 893,227 Davies ,-..-n Ju1y 14,- 1908 1,453,615 Benenato ,Maygl, 1923 1,710,603 Benenato Apr. 23, 1929 1,893,086 Keller Jan. 3, 1933 1,990,760 Swift .,Feln` 12;. 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date;A

602,699 Germany Sept. 14, 1934 103,578 Australia Mar. 25, 1938 60,617 Netherlands Sept 15, l19417 

